West Pullman man charged after police witness shooting

August 18, 2009

A West Pullman man was charged today with attempted murder after police witnessed him shoot another man over the weekend, Chicago police said.

Torrance Bard, 24, of the 11600 block of South Laflin Street, was ordered held in lieu of $1.5 million bond by Circuit Court Judge Ramon Ocasio III, said Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Bard was charged with one count of attempted murder and aggravated assault to a police officer, said Simonton.

Bard, a five-time convicted felon, was arrested after police were guarding another crime scene Sunday when they heard shooting a short distance away on the 10200 block of South Carpenter Street, said Chicago Police Sgt. Karla Chaplin.

When they went to investigate, they allegedly saw Bard stand in the middle of the street and shoot a 24-year-old man in the lower-right leg with a handgun at point-blank range, police said.

Police ordered Bard to drop his weapon but instead, the man turned toward the two officers while still holding the gun, police said.

Bard then tossed his weapon to the ground and attempted to flee on foot with the two officers and additional police chasing after him.

Bard made his way onto the roof of a garage where he refused orders to raise his hands. He jumped onto another roof and eventually down into a gangway, where he was arrested and taken into custody by Morgan Park district officers.

The victim was taken to Advocate Christ Hospital where he was treated and released, police said.